Encyclia altissima in the Turks & Caicos Islands
 

Pine Cay in the Turks & Caicos Islands (just east of Cuba) is one of our favorite places to vacation. It is privately owned with just a 13 room resort. There are no cars, TV, radios, etc. and the most perfect beach you've ever seen.

When we go in January, the Encylia altissima are in bloom. It's really interesting to see the color variation (from almost lemon yellow to dark brown and with various maroon patterns on the lip. There also seems to be 2 flowering patterns; one with larger but fewer flowers spaced apart; and one with smaller more closely packed and numerous flowers.

As you can see in the photos the leaves are about 12 inches tall and shaded/protected by other plants. The spikes are 6 feet or more and open to full sun.

The guy in the photo for scale is my husband.

We ever we go on vacation, we try to find local orchids whenever we can.

Attachment 77444 Attachment 77445 Attachment 77446 Attachment 77447

Attachment 77448 Attachment 77449 Attachment 77450

That is cool, Carrie. Wonderful orchid and great pictures.

Wow! Its big! Nice photos!

via mobile

Very nice photos and I love the flowers on them!

It's always great to see orchids in the wild. Thanks for posting this.

Wow! That's fabulous!

Cool, great find!

Thanks for sharing! Very nice orchid, I wonder why Encyclia are so seldom sold. It's a rewarding genus.

Wow! That is beautiful, large orchid! Thanks to you and Ron Hanko I am enjoying and learning so much about orchids in the wild.